Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
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Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#2"Because our mapping services are now subject to the whims of angry, powerful residents, we have to rely on other sources to give us accurate directions. In a way, the post on my blog is almost like passing out hand-drawn paper cartography from person to person, a map to buried treasure that hangs in plain sight."
Samizdat internet ... even literally, according to Britannica: '(from Russian sam, “self,” and izdatelstvo, “publishing”)'
Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#3I may be missing something, but why don't they build a car park and widen the road? Surely it's a lot easier than trying to stop people going to one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world.
It's definitely worrying that major tech companies are willing to alter their maps at the request of a few wealthy individuals.
Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#4I've never been to LA, but now I know.
Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#5OpenStreetMap, of course, has correct and accurate directions on how to drive or walk to the Hollywood sign.
e.g. https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=graphhopper_...
Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#6OpenStreetMap, of course, has correct and accurate directions on how to drive or walk to the Hollywood sign. e.g. https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=graphhopper_...
At least until Google vandalizes it. http://www.wired.com/2012/01/osm-google-accusation/
Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#7I may be missing something, but why don't they build a car park and widen the road? Surely it's a lot easier than trying to stop people going to one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world. It's definitely worrying that major tech companies are willing to alter their maps at the request of a few wealthy individuals.
Maybe it's not possible to get planning permission to build a car park because it's near a public park.
It really does seem like there is an opportunity here that isn't being exploited though. Why doesn't someone start running tours up there? A couple of buses wouldn't cause a problem and there's money to be made from this.
Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#8OpenStreetMap, of course, has correct and accurate directions on how to drive or walk to the Hollywood sign. e.g. https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=graphhopper_...
At least until Google vandalizes it. http://www.wired.com/2012/01/osm-google-accusation/
Please don't spread this kind of FUD – even the article you linked to is much more measured. It's pretty silly to imply that there was any corporate action on behalf of Google aimed at vandalising OSM at the same time as the were sponsoring their annual conference.
Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#9> then—in something I’ve never seen before, anywhere on Google Maps—a dashed gray line arcs from Griffith Observatory, over Mt. Lee
Uhm, Google Maps do this all the time if there is no route to the place you selected. I'd say I see it every time I use the routing feature by hand or by entering GPS coordinates, i.e. not when I write an address down.
Re: Why people keep trying to erase the Hollywood sign from Google Maps (2014)
#10Misleading the public doesn't solve the issue. I live inside the medieval walls of a historic French town and we are 'overrun' with tourists. However, despite some of them being rather inconvienient, it isn't like I have the right to shut down the street in front of my house to prevent the intrusive traffic that makes it difficult to even exit my garage. I knew about this 'issue' when I bought the house. And, even if I didn't, I don't own the city. It's a shared resource. It's the reason we elect local governments -- to prevent special interests from dominating an issue. Government isn't always effective, but in cases like these, it exactly the purpose of government.
So instead of blocking a tourist 'trail,' folks on my little goat-path of a street appealed to the city to assist with enforcement of existing parking regulations. They even erected some barriers to prevent blocking my garage. However the tourists still have the freedom of access while still making it workable enough for residents.
But blocking the street, breaking GPS or any other vigilante response wouldn't be appropriate because there are more interests in this town than just my own.
The key is to work together to balance interests in a way that is reasonably harmonious.
These Hollywood residents, blaming stuff such as a dog being squashed by a car on tourists are being a bit ridiculous. The dog was in the street. The fact that it was (allegedly) a tourist car that did it is irrelevant and is really just a cheap propaganda play. If the cars prevent fire trucks from access, that is something that could be handled at a city planning level and not by some residents that seem to think they are traffic engineers.